Area of shooting

A 63-year-old man armed with three handguns was killed in a shootout with Henderson Police this morning after opening fire on an officer in what authorities described as an ambush.

Police spokesman Keith Paul said the incident unfolded about 8 a.m. near Boulder Highway and College Drive, where an officer was blocking traffic after a pedestrian was struck and killed nearby at Boulder Highway and Horizon Drive.

The officer, who was in her vehicle, thought she heard fireworks, but when she looked to her left, she saw a man firing a handgun at her, Paul said. A shot shattered her rear driver’s side window.

The officer started driving away and radioed, “Shots fired!”

Two nearby patrol cars immediately headed in her direction and encountered the suspect walking across Boulder Highway. The suspect spotted the patrol cars and began firing, hitting one vehicle, police said.

Three officers returned fire, Paul said. The man was struck and taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he later died.

No officers were injured, Paul said.

Police believe the suspect, who has not been identified, rode and parked a motorcycle across from the first officer on Boulder Highway. Detectives recovered a rifle from a side bag on the motorcycle, in addition to the three handguns found on the man, Paul said.